Combinaed hot water and warm air heating system for household use



Aug. l1, 1964 c.-P. SAHLER COMBINED HOT WATER AND wARM ATR HEATING SYSTEM FDR HOUSEHOLD MSR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 5, 1962 Aug. 11, 1964 c. P. SAHLER COMBINED HOT WATER AND WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEM FOR HOUSEHOLD USE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTOR. 04m P Aiwa FAD United States Patent O 3,144,207 COMBINED HOT WATER AND WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEM FR HOUSEHLD USE Carl Sahler, 8 Lone Oak Road, Basking Ridge, NJ. Filed July 3, 1962, Ser. No. 207,355 Il Claims. (Cl. 237-2) This invention relates to a combined warm air heating unit and hot water heating system having a common source of fuel supply, air supply, and electricity and control means therefor.

Systems of this type have been proposed. Cheasley Patent 2,353,146 and Jennings Patent 2,358,809 disclose systems intended for accomplishing a similar objective, but they have never been put into commercial use because they are too complicated and expensive.

One object of this invention is to provide a combined hot water heater and a house heater, which has a peculiarly simple and effective control system that is safe, effective and economical to install.

Another object is to provide means whereby the operation may be biased either in favor of the water heater or in favor of the house heater, at the will of the owner. Thus a greater flexibility is given to the system; for example, the bias may be set in favor of the water heater throughout the night, particularly if the hot water tank is large, and thus a quantity of hot water will be available in the morning, and then, either manually or automatically by a time switch, set in favor of the house heater to insure that the house will be brought up to normal temperature quickly.

The use of the term biased herein is illustrated as follows: Biased in favor of the water heater means, as will be understood by those familiar with this type of system, that when the water heater is in operation, the thermostat may call for the house heater to be ignited, but no action will take place until the water heater has brought the temperature of the water up to the point where the Aquastat shuts down the water heater. Moreover, if the house heater is in operation and the Aquastat calls for heat, the house heater burner will be shut down until the Aquastat has shut down the water heater.

If the system is biased in favor of the house heater, the reverse is true.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a water heater and a house heater having a single ignition transformer and a single air and oil pumping mechanism but separate burner nozzles arranged in accordance with this invention.

FlG. 2 is a combined flow diagram and electrical circuit diagram from which the operation of the invention may be readily described.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modified control system which corresponds to FIG. 2 but is provided with means for changing the bias from the water heater to the warm air heating unit, and vice versa.

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional view of a solenoid switch mechanism, with the means for changing the bias, shown in detail.

Referring first to FiG. l, a warm air heating unit 1 and a hot water tank 2 are provided with oil burner nozzles 3 and 4, respectively. A single motor driven burner unit having the usual motor lla, transformer 5, air blower 6 and oil pump 7, is located between the units 1 and 2 and is connected to the two oil burner nozzles 3 and 4. The transformer secondary winding is subdivided into two parts which respectively supply high voltage current to the two sets of ignition electrodes, as shown in FIG. 2.

The stacks S and 8a from the units 1 and 2 are joined 3,144,2@7 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 and lead into a common stack 9 which may have a conventional type of stack switch indicated at 1li.

For completeness, a simple form of stack switch, is shown diagrammatically in FlG. 2 and is connected to the control circuits.

Referring to FIG. 2, an ordinary line voltage source of electricity is marked 11 and 11a, a line voltage Aquastat is marked A and a line voltage thermostat is marked t. There are two end switches, one switch 12 for the water heater burner 4 and one switch 13 for the warm air heater burner 3. A slow acting solenoid 14 controls both the switch 12 and an oil valve 15 in the oil pipe 16 between the oil pump 7 and the nozzle 4. Another slow acting solenoid 17 controls both the switch 13 and an oil valve 18 in the oil pipe Ztl' between the oil pump '7 and the nozzle 3.

The individual elements are shown diagrammatically and are marked for convenient reference but are not il lustrated in detail, since per se they form no part of this invention and are standard articles of manufacture well known to those skilled in the art of oil burner household equipment and controls.

The switch 12 and valve 15 are mechanically interconnected and are marked N/ C, meaning normally closed. The switch 13 and valve 18 are mechanically interconnected and are marked N/O, meaning normally open.

In line 27 is inserted a solenoid Ztl@ which when actuated closes a switch 2111 in circuit 95, which supplies electricity to the spark terminals 94 of burner li. Likewise in line 35 is inserted a solenoid 2112 which when actuated closes a switch 293 in circuit 93 which supplies electricity to the spark terminals 92 of burner 3.

The operation of the system of FIG. 2 is as follows:

When the Aquastat A calls for heat, it closes a circuit from terminal 11 through line 25, solenoids 14 and 17, line 26, Aquastar A, line 27 and solenoid 200 to terminal 11a. Thus solenoids 14 and 17 are actuated and switch 12 and valve 15 are opened, and switch 13 and valve 18 are closed. Furthermore solenoid 2li() is actuated and the circuit is thereby completed from transformer secondary section 91a, through line 95, switch 201 and through oil burner spark terminals 94 and line 95 through the stack switch as hereinafter explained.

Since oil valve 18 is closed and valve 15 is open, oil is supplied to the nozzle l of the water heater, the ignition spark being supplied from transformer 5 which has a primary coil 911 connected to the supply lines 11 and 11a and a pair of secondary coils 91 and 91a which are connected respectively to ignition terminals 92 of burner 3 by line 93 and to ignition terminals 94 by line 95. The return line 96 is connected through the stack switch, which acts to cut off both the oil feed and the ignition if the burner has not started in a predetermined time, and thence through line 97 to the opposite terminal of the transformer secondary coil 91a.

If the thermostat T calls for heat, nothing will happen, as switch 12 is open, until the water in the water heater is at adequate temperature and Aquastat A is open.

When the Aquastat A is open, the valves are in their normal positions, switch 12 being closed and 13 open, and under these conditions, if thermostat T calls for heat, a circuit is completed from line 25, through line 34, thermostat T, line 35, solenoid 202 of switch 203, switch 12 and line 31 to terminal 11a. Since solenoid 202 is thus actuated, switch 2113 is closed and a circuit is completed from transformer secondary section 91 through line 93 across spark gap terminals 92 and line 96 through the stack switch as hereinafter described. Since oil valve 15 is closed and oil valve 18 open, oil is supplied to the nozzle 3 of the air heater.

On the diagram of FIG. 2 it will be observed that the connecting rods shown in dotted lines, which control the end switches and the oil valves, extend downwardly and have attached thereto at their lower ends dampers which are marked N/C and N/ O to correspond to the valves, and these dampers, if required, are located in the air lines 100 and 101 and control the quantity of air supplied to the burner nozzles when oil is fed through the usual inner oil lines 16 and 20.

The stack switch comprises a cylinder 190, a solenoid 191 which slowly raises a plunger 192 in cylinder 190, thus introducing the desired time element within which the oil burner will normally ignite and supply heat to the stack.

If the burner starts in the normal fashion, the heat will actuate the pyrostatic contacts and close switch 193. This will complete the circuit and continue the operation of the burner and moreover will short-circuit the electromagnet 191, thus permitting the plunger 192 to drop to its retracted position, as shown in the drawings.

If, however, the burner has not ignited and therefore the pyrostatic contacts are not actuated, then the upward movement of the plunger 192 will contact an extension 194 on switch 195 and push that switch into its open position, where it is locked by a hand-operated latch 196. Thus the oil supply is eut off and the normally closed switch 195 will remain open until released by hand. This introduces a safety factor so that the operation of the burner can be checked before restarting.

Since the stack switch mechanism is inserted in the common return line 96 of the ignition circuits, it will operate as above indicated, irrespective of which ignition circuit is actuated and, as already pointed out, since the stack switch is in the common outlet flue 9, it will act to insure that the actuated burner has actually ignited and the hot gases are flowing up the stack.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, end switches 40 and 41 are adapted to be operated by solenoids 42. and 43 which have coils 44 and 45 and are mounted on the respective ends of a link 46 pivoted at 47 and are adapted to actuate armatures 4S and 49 which are mounted on and attached to the switch rods t) and 51. Springs 55 and 56 are attached to a control block 57 at their inner ends and to the switch rods Sti and 51 at their outer ends. The arrangement is such that when the block 57 is turned by a handle on a knob 59, spring 55 will cause switch 40 to be biased to its open position and spring 56 will cause switch 41 to be biased to its closed position. The reverse is true if the handle on knob 59 is turned in the reverse direction.

A link 60 connects the block 57 with the link 46 so that when the block is turned, the coils 44 and 45 are adjusted in the opposite direction so as to operate the switches in the desired manner when the coils are energized.

A link 70 connects link 46 to an arm of switch 71 which in turn is connected by link '72 to a switch 73. The arrangement is such that by turning the handle 59, the switches 4) and 41 may be biased so that one is normally closed and the other is normally open or vice versa.

Referring particularly to the diagram of FIG. 3, and assuming that the control knob 59 has been turned in a counter-clockwise direction, the system will be biased in favor of the water heater, as set forth in the diagram of FIG. 2. On the other hand, assuming that the knob 59 is turned in a clockwise direction, the bias will be shifted in favor of the warm air heating unit. The operation will be clearly understood by tracing the circuits on the assumption that the bias has been shifted from the water heater, as shown in FIG. 2, to the air heating unit by turningthe control knob in a clockwise direction. Under these conditions the switch 40, instead of being normally closed as in FIG. 2, will be normally open and switch 41 will be normally closed instead of being normally open. From line 80 circuit is established through line 81,

through the coils 44 and 45, which are now set to open Switch 41 and close switch 4l). The circuit is completed through line 82 through switch blade 83, line 84, thermostat T, line S5, switch blade 86 and line 37 to line terminal 88.

While the embodiments of the invention which are shown and described are the best known to me at the present time, various modifications and improvements may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

The arrangement and illustrated switches of FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond to those shown in FIG. 2 as follows: Switches 4t) and 41 are substituted for switches 12 and 13. The supply line 88-80 corresponds to supply line 11a and 11 and A and T correspond to the like designations in FIG. 2. The arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 constitutes a complete and desirable system when incorporated into the FIG. 2 arrangement as will be clearly understood by those skilled in this art.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 104,634, filed April 2l, 1961, for Combined Hot Water and Varm Air Heating System for Household Use, now abandoned in favor of this application.

I claim:

1. A dual oil burner system for tiring a warm air heater and a water heater comprising a water heater oil burner nozzle, a warm air heater oil burner nozzle, an integral unit comprising an air blower, an oil pump, and a motor for operating the blower and pump to provide oil and air for said burners and control means operable to direct oil and air from said blower and pump selectively to one or the other burner, in response to predetermined temperature of the water heated by said water heater oil burner or the temperature of air in the space heated by said Warm air heater oil burner, respectively, said control means being biased in favor of the water heater burner, and means for changing the bias from one of said burners to the other.

2. A system having a house heater burner nozzle, a water heater burner nozzle, an integral operating unit having an electric motor, an oil pump, an air blower and a transformer in combination with a first solenoid operated switch having an oil valve for determining the flow of oil to the Water heater burner, operatively connected therewith, means for holding said switch and valve normally closed, and a second solenoid operated switch having an oil valve for determining the flow of oil to the house heater burner, operatively connected therewith, means for holding said second switch and valve normally open, and means for changing the action of the switches and valves so that means is effective for holding the first switch and valve normally open and means is effective for holding the second switch and valve normally closed, whereby the system is biased either in favor of the water heater or in favor of the house heater, at will.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which a stack switch mechanism is interposed in a transformer circuit including a spark gap of either one or the other of the burners.

4. A dual oil burner system comprising a warm air heater burner nozzle, a water heater burner nozzle, a single integral unit for supplying oil and air to either of said nozzles, a line voltage thermostat responsive to the temperature of the air heated by the warm air burner nozzle and means controlled by said thermostat for starting and stopping the ow of oil and air to the air heater nozzle, a line voltage Aquastat responsive to the temperature of the water heated by the water heater burner nozzle and means controlled by said Aquastat for starting and stopping the flow of oil and air to the water heater nozzle, said first means comprising an end switch and oil Valve having means for holding it normally open, said second means comprising an end switch and oil valve having means for holding it normally closed, slowacting solenoids for said end switches, said Aquastat being connected through the aforesaid slow-acting solenoid actuated end switches whereby when the Aquastat is closed the normally closed end switch and the normally closed oil valve are both open and at the same time the normally open oil valve and the normally open end switch are both closed, and means for disconnecting said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cheasley July 11, 1944 Jennings Sept. 26, 1944 

4. A DUAL OIL BURNER SYSTEM COMPRISING A WARM AIR HEATER BURNER NOZZLE, A WATER HEATER BURNER NOZZLE, A SINGLE INTEGRAL UNIT FOR SUPPLYING OIL AND AIR TO EITHER OF SAID NOZZLES, A LINE VOLTAGE THERMOSTAT RESPONSIVE TO THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR HEATED BY THE WARM AIR BURNER NOZZLE AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID THERMOSTAT FOR STARTING AND STOPPING THE FLOW OF OIL AND AIR TO THE AIR HEATER NOZZLE, A LINE VOLTAGE AQUASTAT RESPONSIVE TO THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER HEATED BY THE WATER HEATER BURNER NOZZLE AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID AQUASTAT FOR STARTING AND STOPPING THE FLOW OF OIL AND AIR TO THE WATER HEATER NOZZLE, SAID FIRST MEANS COMPRISING AN END SWITCH AND OIL VALVE HAVING MEANS FOR HOLDING IT NORMALLY OPEN, SAID SECOND MEANS COMPRISING AN END SWITCH AND OIL VALVE HAVING MEANS FOR HOLDING IT NORMALLY CLOSED, SLOWACTING SOLENOIDS FOR SAID END SWITCHES, SAID AQUASTAT BEING CONNECTED THROUGH THE AFORESAID SLOW-ACTING SOLENOID ACTUATED END SWITCHES WHEREBY WHEN THE AQUASTAT IS CLOSED THE NORMALLY CLOSED END SWITCH AND THE NORMALLY CLOSED OIL VALVE ARE BOTH OPEN AND AT THE SAME TIME THE NORMALLY OPEN OIL VALVE AND THE NORMALLY OPEN END SWITCH ARE BOTH CLOSED, AND MEANS FOR DISCONNECTING SAID THERMOSTAT, WHEREBY IT IS RENDERED INOPERATIVE, WHENEVER THE WATER HEATER VALVE AND END SWITCH ARE OPEN. 